Month: February 2026

Panel I: Integration of Politics, Science and Community in Coastal Management
📍 Municipality of Tivat | May 7, 2026 | 09:00 AM

Following the successful realization of previous editions, the international scientific and professional conference “Boka Bay as a Sustainable Nautical Destination” expands in 2026 into a two-day program held in both Tivat and Kotor. The conference is jointly organized by Sailing Club Delfin, the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor of the University of Montenegro, and the Institute of Marine Biology UCG, with the support of the municipalities of Tivat and Kotor.

Through dialogue between policy, science, and the community, the conference aims to open key discussions on coastal management, protection of the marine environment, and preservation of the cultural landscape of Boka Bay.

The importance of this initiative has also been recognized internationally, with The Ocean Race Europe highlighting the conference on its official website as part of its mission to protect the world’s oceans.

The conference is chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zorica Đurović, Vice Dean for Development and Communications at the Faculty of Maritime Studies Kotor, while the organization of the Tivat session is led by Dr. Slavi Petović, Scientific Advisor at the Institute of Marine Biology.

The first day focuses on integrated coastal zone management models, particularly marine environmental protection and preservation of the coastal cultural landscape.

The international gathering will bring together representatives of relevant national institutions, scientific organizations, and regional experts. The opening lecture will present examples of best practices from Croatia, particularly coastal management in protected areas and balancing development and environmental interests, followed by an open discussion. This segment aims to strengthen cooperation between decision-makers, the scientific community, and local residents, with the goal of creating sustainable, knowledge-based solutions and responsible spatial management.

📍 Pine Waterfront, TIVAT | May 15, 2026 | 4:00 PM

For the third year in a row, the Pine waterfront will spend a full day in the familiar bustle of maritime trades and seaside know-how. On Friday, May 15, 2026, from 4 PM to 8 PM, Pine becomes a meeting place for sailors, fishermen, divers, craftsmen, artists, and everyone whose work, inspiration, or everyday life is tied to the sea.

Maritime Crafts is imagined as an open fair and a living showcase of the sea community — from boat engines, nets, and ropes, to contemporary and traditional crafts that shape Tivat’s identity as a town turned toward the sea. Special attention is given to the development and strengthening of the local crafts offer, recognized as an important economic opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses within the community.

The fair is organized by Sailing Club Delfin, in cooperation with the Tivat Business Info Centre. Thanks to this partnership, Pine will host a representative group of exhibitors with sales, informational, and educational stands, alongside presentations of their products and services. Visitors will have the chance to speak directly with exhibitors, learn more about their work, and discover both modern and traditional “sea” professions and skills.

📍 Gornja Lastva, TIVAT | May 16, 2026 | 7:00 PM

A Conversation on a Landscape Between Protection and Pressure

Sailing Club Delfin, in cooperation with the Cultural and Heritage Association Napredak Gornja Lastva, is organizing a public discussion titled “Defending Vrmac and the Final Days,” to be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 7 PM, at the Josip Marković Cultural Centre in Gornja Lastva.

The discussion will be moderated by journalist and civic activist Brano Mandić. The panel will feature experts who have spent years researching and advocating for the protection of the Vrmac area:

• Željko Starčević, mountaineer, archaeologist, and speleologist (Agency for the Protection and Development of Orjen)
• Aleksandra Kapetanović, conservation architect (Centre for Sustainable Spatial Development Expeditio Kotor)
• Dr. Miloš Petričević, archaeologist (Public Institution “Museums” Kotor)

Vrmac is an area of exceptional natural and cultural value, administratively divided between the municipalities of Kotor and Tivat. A Protection Study has already been prepared as the basis for declaring a Nature Park, and a public consultation has been conducted. Yet formal protection is still pending — despite the fact that, as experts point out, what is missing most of all is political will.

In the meantime, pressures are growing stronger, particularly those related to construction. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Kotor side of Vrmac lies within the UNESCO-protected area of Kotor, while the Tivat side falls within its buffer zone. The discussion will also address recent amendments to the Law on the Kotor Area, which more precisely define obligations related to spatial protection.

This is an opportunity to remind the public of Vrmac’s values — its rich natural heritage, archaeological sites, fortification legacy, and landscape integrity — while opening an honest conversation about the challenges and responsibilities of institutions and the community. Free shuttle van transport will be provided for all interested visitors, from Tivat town centre to Gornja Lastva. After the discussion, participants and guests will be welcomed to a special gastro experience “Heritage in the Pot,” along with a fitting music program in the spirit of Gornja Lastva’s atmosphere and tradition.